Automobile



F.,- LOEFFLER. AUTOMOBILE.

FILED APR. 13, 1920.

s sHEETssHEm 2.

I nbewtoz @bio/mam S F. LOEFFLER.

-AUTOIVIOBILE.

FILED APa.1s.192o.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Dec. 19119.92e 1,439,011. y. F. LOEFFLER..

- AUTOMOBILE. FILED 111111.13. 1920.A I swans-SHEET 4.

De@ 19,1922, www.

- l F. LOEFFLER.

AUTOMOBILE.

FILED APR.13,1920. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented Der.. i9, i922.,

.nire

y' vsra'rizi s'I -wenn 'Partnr orricn.

'FRITZ Ill..OEIEJFLFR', OF YONKEBS, NEW" YORK.

AUToMoBILn.

Application filed April 13,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I,F1irrz LOEFFLE'R, a citi- Zen gof Germany, residingat Yonkers, ,inl the countyof 'Westchesten State of' New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobiles, ot' whichthe following is a description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to an'arrangement in automobiles in which all thedrive ele-- ments actuated primarily by the motor', /particularly thecrank shaft and clutch, -the transmission and al transverse shaft whichactuates the drive wheels through universal joints, are assembled in acommon housing oi' casing in such vmanner that the driving vpower istransmitted over the-'shortest path .through the housing construction,all the drive elementsoperatin'g in a ,common oil bath, `and inl whichthe construction may be assembled and taken apartunder the mostfavorable conditions with the prevention of jamming by reason -ofinaccurate of the axle or the like. y

This invention relates further to an arrangement in automobiles in whichthe len-v tire drive 'or the essential parts thereof are placed in anextended crank case in such manner that the support or bearing for thecrankshaft and the transmission, as well as the points of support forthe transverse I shaft, without formingpart of the housing,

' consist of one. piece or are so connected with each other by 'means ofbolts'that' all driving forces arising are received'in this assemblage,`and this assemblage may be formed into a cover-like structure which canbe inserted from above into 'the housing.-

Another object of the invention is a carry-v ing forward of this'idea,which consists in that the cover-like structure is surrounded by s athin walled housing,fpreferably made `'o i" sheet metal, with whichitni'ay likewisefbe inserted into the vehicle body or frame-which isalso of sheet metal.. vll'ie arrangement is such that the floor of thethin walledhousing is removable in whole or in part. Thefim ventionisbased on the fact that the space" available inthe frame is greater'thanisre quired for enclosing the machine parts. The amount of oil necessaryfor lubrication position 1920. Serial No. 373,690.

would thusvbe lost this large space, thus -more oil must be carriedthan'is absolutely' Y necessary. Furthermore, it is of advantage"V thatis should be necessaryto have only a small space, oil-tight. Y This.invention further relates to an ar-A rangement whereby vthe connectionof' the -drive wheels, which connection is either rigid o r movable, islocated at theA extended crank case or the 'cover-like structure. This-cov'er is providedwith an internalextension to 'a point at the floor ofthe sheet metal housing where at this point the rigid or movableconnection of the drivewheels .is located. The'purpose of theconnection/of the wheels to the crank case Aor to the coverlikest-ructure isto Vcompletely transmit thev powerand to simplify and.cheapen-the construction and assemblage, since ythe crank case orcover-like structure oiersia better.

` rangement which Autilizes this positioning of all the drive elementsina-common housing in order to make themi readily and easily accessiblefor assembling and disas'semblinfgf` v and inspection. In an ordinarilyconstructed motor vehicle. thatisone with a universal.

joint, rear wheel drive, the parts of this drive'ai'e distributed atvarious points of the vehicle, being accessible tol various degreesaccording to their position,

sometimes to remove a whole machine part,

-foi example, the motor, which operation` is In order to'- reacli' them.itis sometimes` required to remove the floor boards of the vehicle andsometimes to crawl'under the vehicle,.aiid.

both' laborious and requires a great deal of "time The housing has'theIfunction of supplying vacoiinectin or support and enclosing the.mechanism- 'According to the invention, the

entire 'driving unit canbe assembled and tested under load outside ofthe housing. The entire driving mechanism lis inserted into the housingas a unit or, when desired,

" suc- ;ividual L y. lt is of adi t .c driving parts with ber -v-Jherebythe Whole ina* the housing fnom above, a pei making tight the jointbetvve and the housing.

An automobile of very simplecoi'istruction may be produced according tothis linvention by stamping the entire vehicle body of sheet metal anddividing the space which is to receive the drive elements by one or moretransverse Walls which reinforce the vehicle body and divide it into anumber of compartments. Preferably the'control levers for the clutch andtransmission and also the steering rod connections are arranged on t-hecoverlike structure, it, of course, being understood that Where it maybe necessary certain parts may be cut out of the intermediate Wall.Which, if desired may bemade of yielding material in order to avoidjamming.

The Weight of the assembled driving'elements, which sometimes is thegreater part of the vtotal 'Weight of the vehicle, is transmitteddirectly to the Wheels according to Athis invention by positioning thepoint or points-of attachment for the Wheel springs onthecommonstructure of some part thereof. The control elements for thevarious parts can also be arranged. on this structure s0 that theresulting automobile may be nothing more than a sheet metal bodyprovided with four Wheels, in which body the coverlike structure, theball bearingsA and drive elements for actuating the vehicle areinserted. l y l The-motor may .be arranged as desired. For instance,vvith the motor parallel with thevehicle axle, a shaft is -providedtransverse'thereof. so arranged that the crankY shaft Will drive thetransverse shaft directly through a gear or chain transmission.` Thislatter construction-is particularly suited for the assembling ofv allparts of the driving mechanism in the cover-.like structure, whichresults in thek advantage that thereneed be only parallel shaft bores inthe cover-like structure. When several cylinders are used.l the clutchand transmlssion are arranged between tWo cranks.` When the crank shaftdrives the transverseshaft by means of the gear transmission, Weight,space and expense maybe saved by arrangingv the drive gear for thetransverse shaft on or concen-l tric with cthe crank shaft, and thuscausing it to have the additional function'of a transmission gear,onetransmission gear beingr thus eliminated'.

LThese'and other objects Will in part be obvious and vvill in part be'.hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal section of au arrangement inwhich the drive elements are Fig. l;

tive force.

assembled into a cover-like structure Which is inserted fromabove intothe housing of sheet metal;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figs. 3 and section fromthe sideon the line 3 -3-ini Fig. 4L from above;l 1

.Figa is a sectionallvievvof a modifica tion;

Fig. 6; is a longitudinal section illustratin@ the extended casing; 'i

4ig. 7 is a front elevationof the vehicle to which my invention isapplied;

Fig. 8 shows another modification of the.` .invention with certain partsremoved for clearer-illustration;

Fig. 9 is a partial front elevation with parts broken away of Fig. 8.Referring .to Figs.- l and 2, the crank shaft v'A v'With .thedriveelements located thereon,particularly the clutch B,.the transmissiongear C, the drive gear D' for the transverse shaft E and 'thetransmission gears F and G, arefjournaled in a common support H. Thecounter-shaft J with the transmission gears L and M arranged on aslidable sleeve K are `supported by the member N Which, in the presentcase, is

formed as an extension of or cover for the The corresponding crank shaftbearing. twobearings O for the transverse shaft E- are located on memberP which 1s an eXe .tension of vand suitably fastened to the cover memberH. All the elements are united into a unit Which 'is similar to a coverand Which is inserted from above into the housingv R, .which is made ofsheet metal, a tight' closure being made by the arcuate flange S. Thehousing is a part of the vehicle body T which is subdivided by tivoWalls U and V. Tliusthe driving mechanism is supported by the rigidintermediate members-H, N and P which receive the mo- The extensions Zof the transverse shaft E pass throughthe sides of the casing' at theopenings W., resilient pipes being placed at these openings to preventingress of dust and dirt and loss of oil with A in the casing.

Figs. 3 and 4L illustrate a construction in' cranks between Which theclutch and the 'transmission are' arranged transversely vWith respect tothe vehicle, thus parallel to thc `transverse shaft and directlyactuating the can be 'caused to mesh With the gears F and G on thecranksituated on the crank shaft.

A spur gear .transmission is herein shown `vvhich the motor (not shown)vhas twov .-the two slidable transmission gears which -i reason in placeI' of the usual bevel gear transmission connecting the/crank shaftAY andthe transverse shaftjE, the transmission gear Gr being v'used inconnection' with the' spur gear transmission as a drivingY means there-:t`orc. l which eliminates one of the -Vgear Wheelsusually used. Thegears G and G75 are continuously in engagementwith each,

other; lnthis construction, a single supe.

portitfis made use of which containsall the bearings vand vvhich'isinserted from above` into the housingv R Which is made facellof theconnnonA support C4 facing the vinterior of theivehile'is not rigidlycon`v nected fto' thgej"intermed iate Wall V;; va

connecting element Referring' 'new to vclosureiisedected byrneansjof the'resilient structure a5 supports the driving.mechanism'.'

j ff, Underneath this str uctl'i're.` and surrounding ltlie driving'mechani'sm-v there is"`a jhous ing *jpr'eferably ofv sheet metal,together With which the cover structure can be inserted:- s into the,vehicle'body e5., The bottoin--ci'of 'thehousing 'b5 .is formedso as tobei entirelyA removable. Furthermoreg a .certain jportion ofthe bottom'may bearrangedzso as to be closed by 'the v coverl portion', d5.' forinspecf heet metal 'it' .is provided advanfageolsy Wilken 'Opening anaccessible c ver.

The' Wholefis inserted in the vehicle-b are to be attachedto.theji'cover-like stru ture g 'which 'supports the `bear ings"' ofthe' gearing. For; this. purpose thecever-flike;

structure q" is provided with -a'n-ezi't sion .f' ata suitablepointvvhichfextendsjtofthe'5; -bottom of the housing.v The.lower4` 55'leafsprin is attached to the lower 'f ac'e'of' plingfcll Which7`forexample, consists vfthe.; extension f, andthe door' of Vthe housingcan .be rigidly connected thereto. ,The up per'` Wheel couplingis'hereshownas agrigid. bar e". The entire arrangement is shown'diagrannnatically in Fig. 7. The wl'reelsY o7 are here attached tosupports]71.7' vvho s ef lower ends are coupled to the endsnofil"Whensit jisYsWungout'torest uponany supporting meansfa (Fi'g). f

springs al?, the'upper ends thereof being con! nected by short couplingsm7 to the rigid bar The control 'lever e7. The transverse spring Z7 isattached to the crank case or to the extension of the cover-likestructurewvith the simultaneous vattachment ofthe housing al. through anopening of the vehiclezbody c7. 7 Figure 6' 70 illustrates the manner ofmounting the -convtrol leverwforthe clu'teh t ransmi ssion landAsteering rod connect`ions, on thefcoverflike structure. -In `this vevv,the upper rigid bar 'c6 is shown as forming a mounting 2 for the lovver`end of .the steering knueklerod 1 and the gearshift levers V67 .7 and 8are provided with a standardjtypeof handcontrol lever 9 pivotallylmounted as' atl() -on the cover-like structure gc, In. asimilar man-s0nner, this cover-like structure forms a' mounting as at 13 for thepivotalpin 12 so that when theelutch leverlliis operated,

theconnecting lever llvvillshift the clutch in theusualmannerff. A V

'-F ig. 8 sliovvs 'how theeQVerslike.structure surrounded by a thinWalled housing can vbe inserted therewith fintoz 3, Shelpshaped l' hidebOdY-` h desgnatsthe'cover-like Fig, 5, the cover-likev l 'housing, land? Zfthe usual automobile hood.

Cast with the part -t there is a hinge m8 ""jabout which all' thedrivingelements, even includingfthe motor n?, may be swung up- 4Ward-inthedirection ofthe arrow o8v as in-v vvthe* elements Will -be exposedandaccessible.

order to svving. the parts as 'describedv itV is-necessary to releaseseveral connections,

range.of-' oscillation.

z; 'In' rigen Win be geen beware Swinging im 'seen-jin*thisligure,thejgconnection of4 the means gpftvvo transverse' springs u. `Before 115Within the inner coupling sothat it may be `Avvlthdravvnv together-vvijth the corresponding Wheel, lfnstead of being slidable in the coulplingV a .diifeient' arrangement may be provided; vfor-' 'example, atelescopic connection of two connecting elements outside of the inner.couplingj An abutment y is rovided,V prefe-,Iably at itheehighestpoint'o theremovable lrnechanisni'to'serveas' a support for: the same 'ia thusdescribed the invention, is claimed as .new isz" I. "n a motor vehicleVof 'the c. ss de, scribed, the combination ci' a bodv ming an open-tophousing, unit cover or. said body `adapted to close the 'top of saidhousing, amotor mounted on said cover, clutch and transmission mechanismmounted on said cover, oppositely arranged .front-drive shafts` carriedby said coverand extending through said body. housing ytodirectly drivethe front wheels, and dli/ 'fig connections between saidtransmission','mechanism and said front drive shafts whereby said cover.absorbs all motor and transmission forces and reactions except Ithereaction of theitorsional movement transmitted to front Wheels.

2. In a motor vehicle of the class described, the combination of a bodyforming an open top housing, a unit cover depending from and into saidhousing to close the opening therein, a' motor mounted on said cover,clutch.l andtransmission mechanisml mounted on said cover', oppositelyarranged front-drive shafts carried by said cover and extending throughsaid body housing to directly drive the front Wheels, and driving.connections between said transmission mechanism and said front driveshafts, whereby said cover absorbs all motor and transmission forces andreactions, except the reaction of the'torsional movement transmitted to'Vfront Wheels. i

l 3. In a motor vehicle of the class described, the` combination of abody forming an open-top housing, a unit cover for said body adapted toclose the top of saidh ousing, a motor mounted on said cover, clutch andtransmission mechanism `mounted on said cover, loppositely arrangedyfront-drlve shafts carried by saidA cover and extending i 4through saidbody housingto directly drive the front Wheels, driving connectionsbetween said transmission mechanism and said front drive shafts, saidcover providing also a support for the means for operating the clutch,gear shift and steering mechanism whereby said cover. absorbsA allmotor, and

transmissioi reaction o. mitted to .fron -k ai. in a motor vehicie ofthe class de-4 cribed, the combination of a body forming anopentophousing, a unit cover for said body .adapted to close the top of saidhousing, a motor mounted on said cover, clutch,

.l movement transtransmission mechanism mounted on said i reactionsexcept the cover, oppositely arranged front-drive shafts operativelyconnected to said mechanism and carried by said cover, said driveshafts` operatively ,connected tosaid mechanism and carried` by saidcover, said drive shafts extendingthrough said body housing, said coverhaving a depending portion terminating adjacent the base .of saidhousing, a spring carried by said depending portion and the bottomofsaid housing, a rigid rod carried bythe top of said housing, andWheels connected to the ends vof said drive shafts .and Wheel carryingmembers carried by saidspring and said rigid rod.

6. In a motor vehicle ofthe class described,theA combination of a bodyform-ing an open-top housing, a unit cover for said bodyl adapted toclose the top of said housing, a motor mounted on said cover, clutch,transmission mechanism mounted on said cover, oppositely arranged driveshafts, and

universal connections between said driveA shafts and saidv mechanism. A

In testimony whereof, IfafliX-iny signa ture.

y' rin-TZl LOEFFLER.

